Last Report: 10/03/2020
Source: https://dl.ncsbe.gov/?prefix=ENRS/2020_11_03/

Returned and Accepted Mail Ballots

Ballots Returned: 340,795
Return Rate: 29.4%

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Party Registration

Party Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Democrats 179,830 52.8 557,424 32.3
Republicans 58,078 17.0 213,416 27.2
Minor 1,034 0.3 5,466 18.9
No Party Affiliation 101,853 29.9 381,300 26.7
TOTAL 340,795 100.0 1,157,606 29.4
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by 2016 Vote History

Note: North Carolina provides only aggregate request statistics, so it is impossible to generate ballot return rates by 2016 general vote.
Voted Count Percent
Voted in 2016 General 258,524 75.9
Did Not Vote in 2016 General 82,271 24.1
TOTAL 340,795 100.0

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Non-Hispanic White 245,853 72.1 772,022 31.8
Non-Hispanic Black 54,156 15.9 205,260 26.4
Hispanic 5,985 1.8 28,051 21.3
Non-Hispanic Asian American 6,291 1.8 28,953 21.7
Non-Hispanic Native American 1,138 0.3 4,959 22.9
Other/Multiple/Unknown 27,371 8.0 118,361 23.1
TOTAL 340,795 100.0 1,157,606 29.4

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Age

Age Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
18 to 25 16,018 4.7 97,585 16.4
26 to 40 38,929 11.4 202,861 19.2
41 to 65 114,051 33.5 426,208 26.8
66 and up 162,704 47.7 430,952 37.8
TOTAL 340,795 100.0 1,157,606 29.4

Mail Ballots Returned and Accepted by Gender

Gender Returned Ballots Freq. Distribution Requested Ballots Return Rate
Female 181,301 53.2 627,147 28.9
Male 142,449 41.8 452,484 31.5
Unknown 17,045 5.0 77,975 21.9
TOTAL 340,795 100.0 1,157,606 29.4

Rejected

Ballots Rejected: 6,316
Rejection Rate: 1.8%

Most of these rejected ballots are for the ballot status reason of “WITNESS INFO INCOMPLETE”.

North Carolina election officials are required by state law to follow up with these voters. If you are a North Carolina voter concerned about your mail ballot, you can track the status of your ballot at the North Carolina State Board of Elections website.

In the “All” mail ballot returned statistics, I add the mail ballots that are returned and accepted with the rejected ballots. Dividing the number of rejected by this quantity yields a rejection rate.

Mail Ballots Rejected by Party Registration

Party Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Democrats 3,932 62.3 183,762 2.1
Republicans 1,030 16.3 59,108 1.7
Minor 18 0.3 1,052 1.7
No Party Affiliation 1,336 21.2 103,189 1.3
TOTAL 6,316 100.0 347,111 1.8
All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballots Rejected by Race and Ethnicity

Race/Ethnicity Rejected Ballots Freq. Distribution All Returned Ballots Rejection Rate
Non-Hispanic White 2,763 43.7 248,616 1.1
Non-Hispanic Black 2,609 41.3 56,765 4.6
Hispanic 205 3.2 6,190 3.3
Non-Hispanic Asian American 157 2.5 6,448 2.4
Non-Hispanic Native American 41 0.6 1,179 3.5
Other/Multiple/Unknown 541 8.6 27,912 1.9
TOTAL 6,316 100.0 347,111 1.8
Non-Hispanic White
Non-Hispanic Black

Requested

Ballots Requested: 1,157,606
Request Rate: 16.2%

Mail Ballot Requests by Party Registration

North Carolina registered Democrats have a 344,008 ballot request lead over registered Republicans.

Party Count Percent
Democrats 557,424 48.2
Republicans 213,416 18.4
Minor 5,466 0.5
No Party Affiliation 381,300 32.9
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0

North Carolina releases an update to the voter registration file each Saturday. The voter registration numbers are from the most recent release and may be slightly dated.

All
Dem
Rep
NPA
Minor

Mail Ballot Requests by Race and Ethnicity

Race Count Percent
Non-Hispanic White 772,022 66.7
Non-Hispanic Black 205,260 17.7
Hispanic 28,051 2.4
Non-Hispanic Asian American 28,953 2.5
Non-Hispanic Native American 4,959 0.4
Other/Multiple/Unknown 118,361 10.2
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Age

North Carolina provides mail ballot request data in age ranges inconsistent with other states’ ranges. The age statistics presented here are not included in the national age statistics.

Age Count Percent
18 to 25 97,585 8.4
26 to 40 202,861 17.5
41 to 65 426,208 36.8
66 and up 430,952 37.2
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0

Mail Ballot Requests by Gender

Gender Count Percent
Female 627,147 54.2
Male 452,484 39.1
Unknown 77,975 6.7
TOTAL 1,157,606 100.0